16 September 2019
In line with its five-year growth plan to provide first-rate content tailored to audiences around the world, MBC Group announces the launch of MBC5, a brand-new satellite channel promising the very best in family entertainment dedicated to the Maghreb.
Referred to as ‘MBC Cinq’ in French, the free-to-air channel will televise content that remains faithful to – as well as further enrich – the North African region’s cultural and historical heritage.
MBC Group’s relationship with the great Maghreb public is one that is not new; for its current channels already broadcast across the region. This launch is only set to cement MBC’s dedication to broadcasting more targeted content, whilst also promising to increase the distribution of localised content to wider territories. This will reinforce the mutual benefits for television producers and directors, whilst improving the quality of skills already present in the field.
Furthermore, the launch of MBC5 is expected to benefit the target countries’ economic development and employment, through new investments in the region’s media sector, as well as the creation of new jobs, especially for first-time employees/the youth market.
This ambitious project will provide a platform to encourage the exchange of diverse experiences and dialogue between local, regional and even global media sectors, encouraging growth and improvement in line with international standards.
LAUNCH DATE
MBC5 launches on the evening of Saturday 21 September, marked by the exclusive broadcast of the first episode of ‘The Voice’ Season 5.
(Source: MBC press release)
5 March 2019
MBC Group has been ranked the 37th Most Viewed Global Media Property in the world – and number one in the Middle East – by the latest VideoAces Awards, which measures videos viewed across all major social media platforms worldwide.
The global top 100 were chosen from 3,200 leading brands, media organisations and content creators.
Now in its third year, the VideoAces – which is managed by Tubular Labs, the world leader in digital video measurement and sponsored video intelligence – recognises the most viewed brands and media companies across social video.
MBC Group joins the ranks amongst leading media organisations, such as Netflix, RT, KBS World TV, Masha and the Bear, US Today, US Agency for Global Media, SKY PLC, abc News, Pops Worldwide, GMA and others.
The year 2018 was enormous for online video, said Tubular Labs, with over 6,500 years-worth of content uploaded across social platforms to create over 804 million videos. That’s a 46% increase from 2017.
Tarek Qazzaz, Head of MBC’s Digital Media and Creative Services (DMCS) department, told Tubular: “We went into 2018 with a dedicated plan to beat our own best, and to become the biggest media brand for socialized video in the Middle East and worldwide.
“With a lot of focus and dedication by the teams and all of MBC Group, we’ve managed to deliver above and beyond our own expectations. This success is down to many people across the business and their acute understanding of what audiences want. Wherever there are audiences, there is MBC.”
DMCS is the MBC Group department responsible for the creation, distribution and circulation of MBC media across all digital platforms supporting marketing, digital and commercial B2B services.
The top five Global Media Properties for 2018 are:
- WarnerMedia
- The LADbible Group
- The Walt Disney Company
- The Soul Publishing
- Buzzfeed
(Source: MBC press release)
28 January 2019
MBC Group announces the launch of MBC Iraq, a brand-new entertainment television channel, providing a diverse selection of gripping content suitable for the entire Iraqi family. This latest debut is part of the Group’s five-year vision to expand and grow its offerings throughout the region.
While the official launch of the channel is scheduled for the evening of Sunday 17 February 2019, Iraqi viewers will be able to enjoy a sneak peek of what’s to come with the airing of two specials: The first on Friday 15 February, with the broadcast of ‘Winter at Tantora’, a Saudi cultural festival featuring a number of Iraqi singing stars including Kadhim al-Saher and Ilham al-Madfai.
The second will be the debut of the sixth season of ‘Arab’s Got Talent’ at 9pm Iraq time on Saturday 16 February 2019.
MBC’s relationship with Iraqi viewers is one that has been ongoing for years, primarily through televising Iraqi dramas, featuring Iraqi talent including superstar singers and many TV stars. Behind the scenes, many Iraqis have contributed to the growth of the Group through their hard work in HR, admin, technical, production, and more since the company’s establishment in 1991.
The launch of MBC Iraq highlights the Group’s ambition to strengthen its relationship with audiences in Iraq, and this will be reflected in the channel’s first line of programming, consisting of Iraqi productions such as drama and comedy; in addition to socio-cultural premium entertainment shows. Moreover, viewers can expect a special, tailored line-up during the Ramadan season, to be announced in due course.
“MBC Iraq is the result of the purposeful vision of Chairman of the Board, Sheikh Waleed Al-Ibrahim, and the culmination of MBC Group’s five-year expansion and growth plan, which we announced in the last quarter of 2018,” said Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group.
“MBC Iraq is a premium television network that caters to the needs of a sophisticated Iraqi audience, offering exclusive and premium content suitable for all members of the family and all age groups. Our aim is to offer increased localised productions, offering opportunities to Iraqi talent and prospects in media to its youth.”
Titles to expect on MBC Iraq include the social comedy show, ‘Koma D’; the music programme ‘Sahraya’ with Iraqi singing star Hatem Al-Iraqi; the cultural show ‘Al-Nahr Al-Thalath’ with Alaa Al-Hussein; ‘Al-Laylah Wayah Da’adoush’ talk show; and the lifestyle programme ‘Bait Beauty’.
(Source: MBC press release)
25 September 2018
To mark Saudi National Day, the General Authority for Entertainment presented Cirque du Soleil in Riyadh, in one of the international performance company’s largest shows to date, and its first in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The event, attended by 27,000 guests, was organised by MBC Group and broadcast live on MBC1.
Cirque du Soleil’s debut in the Kingdom broke the record for the largest number of attendees in a single circus performance. Taking place at the King Fahd International Stadium, the event was presented on a tailor-made 100 x 40-metre theatre that was designed and constructed especially for the occasion.
Intertwining storytelling with spectacular acrobatics, audiences witnessed a visual masterpiece that included aerial silk, suspended pole, rotating ladder, German wheel, fire manipulation and Trampowall performances, as well as unicycle tricks, contemporary and hip-hop dance, electric motorcycle stunts, and even a free-flying Hoverboard illusion.
Blending the latest in spectacular stagecraft, mesmerising special effects and enthralling fireworks, Cirque du Soleil was watched by over 200 million viewers worldwide, turning the Saudi National Day celebrations into a truly global event.
(Source: MBC press release)
16 May 2018
O3 Productions, the drama and film production arm of MBC Group, the largest private media company in the Middle East & North Africa region, and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, one of the leading media and entertainment companies in the Middle East, announced a new partnership to co-finance and co-produce a slate of Saudi films for local, regional and international audiences.
This new deal comes in the wake of the first cinemas in two generations opening in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announcing itself open for business for filmmakers from Saudi, the Arab world and internationally.
The country has a big presence at this year’s Cannes Film festival with The Saudi Film Council in town for the first time this year along with a Saudi Film Pavilion at the Marche du Film and a selection of Saudi short films showing as part of the festival’s industry programme. The Saudi Film Council has also announced a generous production rebate as a means to attract international productions to film in the Kingdom.
Though ImageNation and MBC/O3 are keeping specific details of the four new feature projects under wraps, genres are likely to include action, thriller, real-life dramas, and comedies. Projects will aim to film in Saudi and utilize Saudi talent in front of and behind the camera. Development has begun on all projects, with production set to commence in 2019.
Saudi comedian and writer Fahad Al Butairi, who previously collaborated with Image Nation on FROM A TO B and the upcoming RASHID AND RAJAB, is also writing a new project entitled LOVE ABOVE THE LAW, which will fall under the new deal. The film is a comedy about a middle class Saudi man marrying a girl from the Badiya, the rural community, and the two discovering they actually have a lot in common.
This MBC/O3 Saudi deal follows on from the previous film and TV deal that MBC and Image Nation announced last year.
Under that deal, O3 and Image Nation are currently in advanced development on the feature film adaptation of Saudi pop culture smash HWJN, about a devout God-fearing Jinn who forges a special bond with a talented Saudi female medical student.
Emirati filmmaker Majid Al-Ansari, who previously directed Image Nation’s Zinzana and has served as executive producer on a number of Image Nation’s other projects will direct the film, which will commence shooting in the Autumn of this year. An extensive casting search in Saudi Arabia is currently underway for the leads in the film and casting will be announced in due course.
A spin-off TV series The Delusionists which also has a unique take on modern Saudi and Arab society will also go into production back-to-back with the film.
Fadi Ismail, Group Director of O3 Productions said: “There is so much to be done in this brave new drive and we believe in collaboration with those who have the same ambitions and vision. Image Nation is a trusted and established player in the film industry and we have joined forces to launch a slate of Saudi films that will promote Saudi storytelling and talents. MBC Group – via its Drama and Film production arm – is keen to push Saudi storytelling, through Drama and Film, qualitatively and quantitatively, to new heights – thus creating premium content that not only is captivating to Saudi and regional viewers, but can travel globally and help in further projecting the positive image of KSA as an active player in international entertainment industry.”
Ben Ross, Head of Narrative Film and Television at Image Nation, commented: “As Saudi Arabia begins a new chapter in its cinematic history, this exciting partnership between Image Nation, MBC and O3 will showcase the very best Saudi filmmaking talent in front of and behind the camera. We are one of the first foreign companies investing in Saudi content and are looking forward to introducing new Saudi talent to local, regional and global audiences. We’re delighted to be working with the multi-talented Fahad Al Butairi again on Love Above the Law. This deal really underscores Image Nation and MBC’s shared commitment to producing high-quality Arab language film and television projects for the Arab world.”
(Source: MBC press release)
